AITAH for lying to my neighbor so I didn’t have to take their kids to school?

A 24-year-old mom found herself roped into watching her 46-year-old neighbor’s three kids way more than she ever signed up for. It started with occasional babysitting for his toddler daughter, but snowballed into expecting her to shuttle the school-aged ones to the bus stop every morning—without asking.

Things got messier with repeated lice outbreaks spreading to her own children, and the neighbor dropping kids off unannounced. Fed up, she started “sleeping in” on purpose to avoid the routine, and finally reported the neglect to CPS. The online crowd is firmly in her corner, urging stronger boundaries.

The casual help turned into an unspoken expectation last year.

This year escalated, with kids showing up right at her door.

The lice issue pushed her frustration higher.

She began dodging to protect her routine and health.

Entitled neighbors taking kindness for granted is frustratingly common, especially with parents assuming free help. This mom’s gradual overload—from bus walks to full drop-offs and lice treatments—shows how “favors” can become expectations without clear communication.

Persistent untreated lice, kids left unsupervised on porches, and unannounced drop-offs raise real neglect flags. Experts note chronic infestations often signal deeper home issues, like improper treatment or unclean environments, harming kids’ health and social lives.

Calling CPS was brave and appropriate here—reports help investigate without immediate removal, focusing on family support first. Schools can also flag repeated issues. Strong boundaries, like locked doors and direct “no’s,” protect her family while the pros handle the rest.

Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:

Everyone agreed she’s not wrong, praising the CPS call and pushing for firmer lines.

Many stressed protecting her own kids and cutting contact.

A few called out the health risks and urged total cutoff to protect her own family.

This young mom bent over backward helping out, only to face entitlement and health risks for her family. Lying to reclaim mornings and reporting concerns show she’s prioritizing what’s right—for everyone involved. Ever dealt with a neighbor overstepping like this? How firm would you get with boundaries here?